Carton having end closures of substantially uniform thickness



May 22, 1951 J. A. ZINN, JR

CARTON HAVING END CLOSURES OF SUBSTANTIALLY UNIFORM II-IICKNESS 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 28, 1947 //0 JNV'ENTOR.

Jam d ZL/UZ, J/r,

BY 1 MM, 4 mm.

May 22, 1951 J. A. ZINN, JR

CARTON HAVING END CLOSURES OF SUBSTANTIALLY UNIFORM THICKNESS Filed March 28, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. JWQZQZIZ, J/I,

Patented May 22, 1951 zssasti CARTON HAVING END CLOSURES OF SUB- STANTIALLY UNIFORM THICKNESS Julius A. Zinn, Jr., Chicago, 111.

Application March 28, 1947, Serial No. 737,868

8 Claims.

The present invention relates to improvements in cartons having end closures of substantially uniform thickness.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved carton having rigidity, and which is efficient in stopping seeping therefrom.

A further object is to provide a carton which, although made of relatively thin gauge material, has strength and good appearance.

A further object is to provide a blank for an improved carton in which wastage of material is minimized.

A further object is to provide a carton and a blank for forming said carton having the advantage that sealing of the carton may be accomplished without crushing, even though the carton contains only non-rigid material.

A further object is to provide an improved carton well adapted to meet the needs of commercial service.

Further objects will appear as the description proceeds.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a view of a blank embodying the principles of the present invention, the blank being shown with that surface uppermost which is to be presented outwardly of the carton;

' Figure 2 is a view in perspective of the blank illustrated in Figure 1, having the walls or panels thereof assembled in operative positions, the top and bottom closures being open;

Figure 3 shows the top closure at an intermediate stage of assembly;

Figure 4 is a perspective view illustrating the top closure in a later stage of assembly;

Figure 5' shows the top closure completely sealed;

Figure 6 is a perspective view looking upwardly toward the bottom of the carton, with the parts of the bottom closure not yet folded into position;

Figure '7 is a view taken from the same angle as the view in Figure 6, but showing the bottom closure partly assembled;

Figure 8 shows the bottom closure at a later stage of assembly;

Figure 9 shows the bottom closure in fully closed position;

Figure ii) is a sectional View on an enlarged scale taken along the plane indicated by the arrows ll t of Figures and 9; and

Figure 11 is a sectional view taken along the plane indicated by the arrows H-H of Figures 5 and 9.

Referring to Figure 1, the numeral I 0 indicates a blank which may be of cardboard or the like. The particular blank chosen for illustration is intended for a carton having tapering cross-section from top to bottom, that is, a carton of the nesting type although the invention is equally applicable to cartons having uniform cross-secw tion from top to bottom.

The particular blank chosen for illustration includes five panels indicated by the numerals l I, l2, I3, 14 and !5. Said panels are swingingly connected together at crease lines.

The panel H is defined by the edge l6, crease line H, crease line 18 and the crease line H).

The panel [2 is defined by the crease line IS, the crease line 29, the crease line 2| and the crease line 22.

The panel IS the crease line crease line 25.

The panel I it the crease line crease line 28.

The panel l5 the crease line line 3 l The panel 9 l is adapted to be disposed fiatwise against the under surface of the panel l5. The panel H may be referred to as the fold-under panel.

Swingingly connected to the panel I I at the top thereof is the fiap 32, which flap is defined by the crease line H, edge 33, edge 34, edge 35, edge 36, edge 31 and the crease line 38. The edges 33 and 34 define a triangular cutout, the edge 33 being disposed in forty-five degree relationship with the crease line H. The edge 34 is in substantial parallelism with the crease line 57. The edges 35 and 31, as well as the crease line 33, will be disposed in right angular relationship with the crease line ii, and the edge 36 is parallel with the crease line H.

Swing-ingly connected to the panel l2 at the top thereof is the tab 39, defined by the crease line 25, crease line 46, slit 4|, edge 42, edge 43, (parallel with the crease line 29), edge 44, slit and crease line 46. The dimension of the tab 39 perpendicular to the crease line 20 is a little less than half of the length of the crease line 23-.

Swingingly connected to the panel l3 at the top thereof is the flap ll, defined by the crease line 23, crease line 48, edge '39, edge (parallel with the crease line 23), edge 5i and crease line 52.

Swingingly connected to the panel M at the top thereof is the tab 53, defined by the crease is defined by the crease line 21 25, the crease line 24 and the is defined by the crease line 24, 2B, the crease line 2'! and the is defined by the crease line 21, 29, the edge 3E) and the crease 3 line 26, crease line 54, slit 55, edge 56, edge 51 (parallel with the crease line 26), edge 58, slit 59 and crease line 59. The dimension of the tab 53 perpendicular to the crease line 26 is a little less than half the length of the crease line 23.

Swingingly connected to the panel l5 at the top thereof is the flap 5!, defined by the crease line 29, crease line 62, edge 63, edge 64, edge 65, edge 56, edge 61, edge 69, edge 69, edge l and edge H. The edges 54 and 65 define a triangular cutout; the edges 6? and 98 define another triangular cutout; and the edges I and ll define still another triangular cutout. The edge 59 is in substantial parallelism with the crease line 29; and the edges 65 and 6'! are in forty-five degree relationship with the edge 55. The edges 64 and 69 are in parallelism with the crease line 29. The edge H is in forty-five degree relationship with the crease line 29; and the edge "i9 is in parallel relationship with the crease line 29. The edge 66 is of approximately equal length with the crease line 29.

The edges 42 and 54 are offset toward each other from positions which would intersect the junctures of crease line 29 with crease lines 18 and 2|, respectively. Likewise the edges 56 and 58 are offset toward each other from positions which would intersect the junctures of crease line 26 with crease lines 25 and 27, respectively. The edge 9? and crease line 39 are offset toward the left from intersecting relationship with the juncture of crease lines I! and [8. The edge 49 with its aligned crease line 98 and the edge with its aligned crease line 52 are offset toward each other from intersecting relationship with the junctures of crease lines 2| and 24, respectively, with crease line 23. Edge 33 with its aligned crease line 52 are oifset toward the right from intersectin relationship with the juncture of crease line 29 with crease line 21.

The crease lines 49 and 45 are in forty-five degree relationship with the crease line 20 and intersect the junctures of crease line 29 with crease lines is and 2!, respectively, thereby leaving a space between the juncture of crease lines 29 and 4D and the juncture of crease lines 39 and I! and also leaving a space between the juncture of crease lines 36 and 2E and the juncture of crease lines 48 and 23.

The crease lines 5d and 60 are in forty-five degree relationship with the crease line 26 and intersect the junctures of crease line with crease lines 24 and 21, respectively, thereby leaving a space between the juncture of crease lines 26 and 54 and the juncture of crease lines 29 and 52 and also leaving a space between the juncture of crease lines '99 and 26 and the juncture of crease lines 52 and 29.

The crease line 19, slit ll and the crease line 38 define a web "[2 and of unclosed approximately triangular contour. The crease line 46, slit and crease line 58 define a web 13 of unclosed approximately triangular contour. The crease line 52, slit 55 and crease line 5 define a web 14 of unclosed approximately triangular contour. The crease line 55!, slit 59 and crease line 82 define a web :5 of unclosed approximately triangular contour.

The spacing of the slits M and d5 from the crease line 29, the spacing of the slits 55 and 59 from the crease line 26, the spacing of edge 79 from the crease line 29, and the spacing of edges 64 and 68 from the edge G5 may all be approximately equal. The spacing of the edge 34 from the crease line I! may be slightly greater than the spacings immediately above referred to, in order to promote ease in folding of the parts of the upper closure of the carton.

The crease lines illustrated in Figure 1 may be conveniently provided by ruling into the material of the blank 19. Inasmuch as Figure 1 shows that surface of the blank which is to be presented outwardly, the crease lines which define the panels ll, I2, I3, is and I5 will be ruled into the blank it! from the under side thereof. These crease lines, together with other crease lines ruled into the blank from the under side, are represented by plain solid lines. Crease lines, such as 38, 95, 54 and 62, will be ruled into the blank is from the upper surface thereof. Such crease lines are represented by solid lines with dots spaced therealong.

The crease lines represented by plain solid lines will bias the parts connected thereby toward the bottom side of the blank as viewed in Figure 1, that is, toward the inside of the carton. Such crease lines may be referred to as direct crease lines.

Those crease lines represented by solid lines with dots placed therealong will bias the parts connected thereby upwardly as the blank is viewed in Figure 1; that is, reversely to the bias of the crease lines represented by plain solid lines. Such reversed bias crease lines will be referred to as reverse crease lines.

The bottom portion of the blank 19 is provided with parts to form the bottom closure of the carton. In many respects the portion of the blank forming the bottom closure of the carton is similar to the portion above described for forming the top closure of the carton.

Inasmuch as the illustrated embodiment of the present invention discloses a blank for forming a tapered carton, the parts forming the bottom closure will be smaller in dimensions than the parts comprising the top closure. Moreover, certain parts of the bottom closure will be tapered to avoid interference with other parts of the bottom closure. Further, the drawings illustrate a construction utilizing a different order of folding of the parts of the bottom closure from the order of closing of the parts of the top closure, which accounts for certain other differences between the part of the panel forming the bottom closure from that part forming the top closure.

Swingingly connected to the panel II at the bottom thereof is the flap 15, defined by the crease line l9, crease line ll, slit i8, edge 19, edge 89, edge 8i, edge 82, edge 83, edge 4, edge 85, edge 86 and edge 81. The slit 18 and edges 89, 82, 84 and 86 are in substantial parallelism with the crease line E9. The edge 8'! is in forty-five degree relationship with the crease line l9, and the edges 8! and 83 are in forty-five degree relationship with the edge 82.

Swingingly connected to the panel [2 at the bottom thereof is the tab 88,defined by the crease line 22, crease line 89, slit 99, edge 9!, edge 92, edge 93, slit 9d and crease line 95. The edge 92 is substantially parallel with the crease line 22 and is spaced therefrom a little less than half the length of the crease line 25.

Swingingly connected to the panel 13 at the bottom thereof is the flap 95, defined by the crease line 25, crease line 9?, edge 98, edge 99, edge I95 and crease line it'll. The edge 99 is substantially parallel with the crease line 25 and is spaced therefrom a distance approximately equal to the length of the crease line 22.

Swingingly connected to the panel H3 at the bottom thereof is the tab I92, defined by the crease line 28, crease line I93, slit I94, edge I95, edge I96, edge I91, slit I98 and crease line I99. The edge I99 is substantially parallel with the crease line 28 and is spaced therefrom a little less than the length of the crease line 25.

Swingingly connected to the panel I5 at the bottom thereof is the flap H9, defined by the crease line (H, edge III, slit H2, edge H3, edge H4, edge H5, slit H6 and crease line Ill. The edge I I4 is substantially parallel with the edge 3i but is spaced therefrom a distance a little less than the spacing of edges 99 and 94 from the crease line I9.

The spacing of the edge 99, slit I8 below the crease line IS, the spacing of the slits 99 and 94 below the crease line 22, the spacing of the slits I94 and I 98 below the crease line 28, and the spacing of the slits H2 and H6 below the crease line 3 I, may be approximately equal.

The crease line I1 is offset to the left from a position which would intersect the juncture of crease lines I8 and 22. The crease lines '91 and I (H are'oifset toward each other from positions which would intersect with the juncture of crease lines 2! and 22 and the juncture of crease lines 24 and 28, respectively. The crease line I I! is offset toward the right from a position which would intersect with the juncture of crease lines 2'? and 28. The crease lines 95 and 89 are in forty-five degree relationship with the crease line 22 and intersect the junctures of crease line 22 with crease lines l9 and 2!, respectively, thereby leaving a space between the juncture of crease lines 22 and 95'and the juncture of crease lines I! and I9 and also leaving a space between the juncture of crease lines 99 and 22 and the juncture of crease lines I9I and 25.

The crease lines I99 and I93 are in forty-five degree relationship with the crease line 28 and intersect the junctures of crease line 29 with the crease lines 24 and 21, respectively, thereby leaving a space between the juncture of crease lines 28 and I99 and the juncture of crease lines 25 and 91, and also leaving a space between the juncture of crease lines 28 and I93 and the juncture of crease lines 3I and I Ill.

The crease line I1, crease line 95 and slit 94 define a web H8 ofunclosed approximately triangular contour. The crease line I9I, slit 99 and crease line 89 define a web H9 of unclosed approximately triangular contour. The crease line 91, slit I98 and crease line I99 define a web I29 of unclosed approximately triangular contour. The crease line I93, slit I94 and crease line Ill define a web I2I of unclosedapproximately triangular contour.

For convenience in folding the top closure, the junctures of crease lines 48 and 52 with the crease line 23 will he at a slightly higher level than the juncture of crease lines 29 and 2E and the juncture of crease lines 29 and 24. This difference may be approximately equal to the thickness of material of blank I9.

The crease line 29 intersect the crease line 62 at a slightly higher level than the juncture of crease line 29 with the crease line 69. This difference in level may be approximately equal to the thickness of the material of'the blank I9. The juncture of crease line I? with crease line 38 is at a slightly lower level than the juncture of crease lines 29 and I8, this difference in level being approximately three times the thickness of the material of the blank I9.

Considering the bottom closure, the junctures of crease line 25 with crease lines I9I and 9! will be at a lower level than the juncture of crease lines 22 and 89 and the juncture of crease line 29 with crease line I99. This differencein le el may approximate three times the thickness of the material of the blank I9. The intersection of crease line I9 with crease line 'I'I will be at a slightly lower level than the intersection of crease lines 22 and 95, this difference in level being approximately equal to the thickness of the material of blank I9.

The intersection of crease line 3i with crease line ill will be at a slightly lower level than the intersection of crease lines I 93 and 28, the difference in level approximating twice the thickness of the material of blank I9.

The panel I3 will be slightly longer than the neighboring panels I2 and I4, which panels I2 and I4 will be of equal height, the difference in height between the panel I3 and the panels I2 and I9 approximating four times the thickness of the material of the blank I9.

The panel II will be of approximately the same height as the panels I2 and I4, and the panel I5 will be slightly lon er than the panels I2 and i l, the difference approximating the thickness of the material of the blank I9.

In forming a carton from the blank illustratedin Figure 1, the panel II, which has been referred to as the fold-under panel, will be brought into surface contact with the panel I5, the upper-surface of the panel II as viewed in Figure 1 being brought into engagement with the under surface of the panel I5, This will form a tube of tapering cross-section, as illustrated in Figure 2. Said panels II and I5 will be adhesively secured together,

In forming the bottom closure, a preferred procedure is as follows:

The tabs 99 and I92 will be moved from their positions as illustrated in Figures 2 and 6 into positions at right angles to the axis ofthe tube. The flap I6 will then be folded into surface engagement with said tabs 88 and I92, the cutout portions defined by the edges 83 and 84 on the one side and by the edges 8| and 99 on the other side receiving the webs H9 and I29, respectively.

The contacting surfaces of the tabs 88 and 592 with the flap I6 will be provided with adhesive. The flap H9 of panel I5 will thenbe folded down into surface engagement with the flap I9, the contacting surfaces having been provided with adhesive. Inasmuch as the flap H9 is relatively short, said H9 will clear the webs H9 and I29. The flap will then be folded down into surface engagement with the flap H9, the contacting surfaces having been provided with adhesive.

The steps above recited will preferably have been carried out with the blank I9, firmly wrapped around a mandrel, and the various elements of the bottom closure may be tightly sea ed together by the use of sealing machinery well known to those skilled in the art.

The webs H8, H9, I29 and I2! will form siftproof closures at the corners of the bottom closure. The parts will fit together by reason of the cutouts in the flap IS.

The slit IS in the flap It provides a certain amount of give to clear the web H8. slits II 2 and H9 will also provide a certain amount of give to clear the webs H9 and I 2!. Though the web I I8 provides one more thickness of material than is present in adjacent The assasoe parts of the bottom closure, the give due to the slit ll2- will render this difference immaterial. However, if preferred, the slits 18, H2 and/or H maybe omitted.

Referring now to the top closure, a different order of folding of the flaps and tabs is illustrated and described.

In moving the parts of the top closure into position, the flap 32 will be moved into right angular relationship with the axis of the carton. The flap 5| will then be folded into surface engagement with the'fiap 32, the contacting surfaces having been provided with adhesive. The tabs 39 and 53 will then be folded down into surface engagement withthe fiap 6i. Inasmuch as said tabs are relatively short, they will not quite meet each other when folded down into operative position.

The contacting surfaces between the flap 5! and-the tabs 39 and 53 will also have beenprovidedwith adhesive. The web l2 will be received within the cutout defined by the edges Hi and H. The crease lines E i and 46 will be received within the cutouts defined by the edges 65 and Stand by the edges El and 68, respectively. The 1 flap 4!- will then be folded down into fiatwise engagement with the tabs 39 and 53, the contacting surfaces having been provided with adhesive.

The webs l2, 713, i i and i5 will provide siftproof sealing features at the corners and by reason of the cutoutsdefined by the edges 33. 3Q, 65, 55, El, 63, 1'9 and H, the webs will be neatly folded into place, the top closure having substantially uniform thickness throughout.

Although a preferred embodiment has been described in detail, many modifications will occur to those skilled in the art and it is intended to cover all such modifications that fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Av blank for a carton, including five panels defined by crease lines, said panels-being adapted to be folded into tubular form of rectangular cross section, the outermost panels being provided with flaps swingingly connected thereto at the ends thereof along one edge portion of the blank, one of said fiaps having a contour to fit within the tube at the corresponding end of said tube, the flap of the panel at the other end. of said blank being adapted to be folded over said one flap, the middle panel being provided with a flap, the panels on two sides of said middle panel being provided with tabsadapted to be disposed crosswise of said tube, the fiap of said middle panel being adapted to be folded over the other of said flaps and over said tabs, said flaps and said tabs being connected to each other adjacent to their axes of swing by webs of approximately'triangular contour, flaps of the'end panels being provided with cut-outs to receive saidwebs to provide a tight closure of substantially' uniform thickness.

2. A blank for a carton, including five panels defined by crease lines, said panels being adapted to be folded into tubular form of rectangular cross section, the outermost panels being provided with flaps swingingly connected thereto at the ends thereof along one edge portion of the blank, one of said flaps having a contour to fit within the tube at the corresponding end of said tube, the fiap of the panel at the other end of said blank being adapted to be folded over said one flap, the middle panel being provided with a flap, the panels on two sides of said middle panel being provided. with tabs adapted to be disposed crosswise of saidtube, the flap of said middle: panel being. adaptedto. be folded over the other of said fiaps and over said tabs, said flaps and said tabs being connected to each other adjacent to their axes. of swing by webs of. approximately triangular contour, each of said webs being defined by a slit and two crease lines having mutually reversed bias, flaps of the end panels being provided with cut-outs to receive said webs to provide. a tight closure of substantially uniform thickness.

3. A blank for a carton, including five panels defined by crease lines, said panels being adapted to be folded into tubular form of rectangular cross section, the outermost panels being provided with flaps swingingly connected thereto at the ends thereof along one edge portion of the blank, one of said flaps having a contour to fit within the tube at the corresponding end of said tube, the fiap of the panel at the other end of said blank being adapted to be folded over said one fiap, the middle panel being provided with a flap, the panels on two sides of said middle panel being provided with tabs adapted to be disposed crosswise of said tube, the flap of said middle panel being adapted to be folded over the other of said fiaps and over said tabs, said flaps and said tabs being connected to each other adjacent to their axes of swing by webs of approximately triangular contour, each of said webs being defined by a slit and two-crease lines having mutually reversed bias, certain of said fiaps being, provided with cutout portions to fit said webs when said flaps and tabs are in operative positions.

a. A carton including five'panels, one of said panels being secured fiatwise against another of said panels to form the tube of rectangular cross section, said two panels being provided withfiaps swingingly connected thereto at the ends thereof at one end of the carton, one of said flaps having a contour to fit within the tube at the corresponding end thereof, the fiap of the other of said two panels being adapted to be folded over said one flap, the middle panel being provided with a flap, the panels on two sides of said middle panel being provided with tabs adapted to be dis posed crosswise of said tube, the flap of said middle panel being adapted to be folded over the others of said fiaps'and over said tabs, said flaps tabs being connected together at the regions thereof adjacent to their'aXes of swing by means of webs of approximately triangular contour, fiaps of the end panels being provided with cutouts to receive said webs to provide a tight closure of substantially uniform thickness.

5. A carton including five panels, one of said panels being secured fiatwise' against another of said panels to form the tube of rectangular'cross section, said two panels being provided with flaps swingingly connected thereto at the ends thereof at one end'of the carton, one of said fiaps having a contour to fit within the tube at the corresponding end thereof, the flap of the other of said two panels at the other end being adapted to be folded over said one fiap, the middle panel being provided with a flap, the panels on two sides of said middle panel being provided with tabs adapted to be disposed crosswise. of said tube, the flap of said middle panel being adapted to be folded over the others of said flaps and over said tabs, said flaps and tabs being connected together at the regions thereof adjacent to their axes of swing by means of webs of approximately triangular contour, each of said webs being defined by a slit and two crease lines having mutually reversed bias, flaps of the end panels being provided with cut-outs to receive said webs to provide a tight closure of substantially uniform thickness.

6. A carton including five panels, one of said panels being secured fiatwise against another of said panels to form the tube of rectangular cross section, said two panels being provided with flaps swingingly connected thereto at the ends thereof at one end of the carton, one of said flaps having a contour to fit within the tube at the corresponding end thereof, the flap of the other of said two panels at the other end being adapted to be folded over said one flap, the middle panel being provided with a flap, the panels on two sides of said middle panel being provided with tabs adapted to be disposed crosswise of said tube, the flap of said middle panel being adapted to be folded over the others of said flaps and over said tabs, said flaps and tabs being connected together at the regions thereof adjacent to their axes of swing by means of webs of approximately triangular contour, each of said webs being defined by a slit and two crease lines having mutually reversed bias, certain of said flaps being provided with cutout portions to fit said webs when said flaps and tabs are in operative positions.

7. A blank for a carton, said blank including five panels, one of said panels being adapted to be secured fiatwise against another of said panels to form a tube of rectangular cross section, said two panels being provided with flaps swingingly connected thereto at the ends thereof at one side of said blank, one of said flaps having a contour to fit within said tube at the corresponding end thereof, the flap of the other of said two panels being adapted to be folded over said one flap, the middle panel being provided with a flap, the panels on two sides of said middle panel being provided with tabs adapted to be disposed crosswise of said tube, the flap of said middle panel being adapted to be folded over the others of said flaps and over said tabs, said flaps and tabs being connected together at the regions 10 thereof adjacent to their axes of swing by means of webs of approximately triangular contour, each of said webs being defined by a slit and two crease lines, the flap of one of said end panels being provided with cutouts coinciding with the outlines of said webs.

8. A carton including five panels, one of said panels being secured fiatwise against another of said panels to form the tube of rectangular cross section, said two panels being provided with flaps swingingly connected thereto at the ends thereof at one end of the carton, one of said flaps having a contour to fit within the tube at the corresponding end thereof, the flap of the other of said two panels at the other end being adapted to be folded over said one flap, the middle panel being provided with a flap, the panels on two sides of said middle panel being provided with tabs'adapted to be disposed crosswise of said tube, the flap of said middle panel being adapted to be folded over the others of said flaps and over said tabs, said flaps and tabs being connected together at the regions thereof adjacent to their axes of swing by means of webs of approximately triangular contour, each of said webs being defined by a slit and two crease lines, one of said flaps being provided with cutout portions to fit said webs when said flaps and tabs are in operative positions.

JULIUS A. ZINN, JR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 341,859 Seib May 11, 1886 2,047,891 Scott July 14, 1936 2,390,909 Zinn, Jr. Dec. 11, 1945 2,412,666 Zinn, Jr. Dec. 17, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 46,392 Demnark Oct. 31, 1932 

